Antenna



April 17, 1945.. E. cLossoN ANTENNA Filed March 25, 1942 LME, mm

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w f f' MM Patented Apr. 17, 1945 ANTENNA Luke E. Closson, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Philco Radio and Television Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation oi Delaware Application March 25, 1942, Serial No. 436,207

(Cl. Z50- 33) 4 Claims.

This invention relates to radio antennae. and more particularly to a novel cowl-type antenna for motor vehicles and the like.

'Ihe object of the invention is to provide a novel antenna structure which reduces the use of metal to a minimum, and which is simple in construction, light in Weight, capable of economic manufacture, and efflcient in operation.

The invention may be clearly understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of one form of antenna constructed according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a greatly enlarged transverse sectional View taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of an alternative form of the antenna;

Fig. 4 is a greatly enlarged transverse sectional view taken along line 4--4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a slightly enlarged transverse sectional view taken along line 5 5 of Fig. 3.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the antenna comprises a tapered rod formed of insulating material I, a conducting wire 2 extending longitudinally within the rod and completely enclosed thereby, and suitable means 3 for supporting the antenna and for effecting electrical connection to the wire 2. In the form of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the rod comprises complemental longitudinal sections 4 and 5 (see Fig. 2) which may take the form of flexible wooden strips provided with complemental longitudinal grooves to accommodate the conducting wire 2. The strips may be semi-circular in cross-section, as illustrated, or they may have any other desired contour. The conducting wire may be an ordinary bare copper wire of small diameter. The assembled parts may be held together by suitable retainers 6 and I at the opposite ends of the rod. The retainer 6 is preferably in the form of a ball having a recess so that it may be forced over the top end of the rod. This ball may be formed of any suitable material, such as plastic material, metal, wood, etc. The lower retainer 1 may be in the form of a cap adapted to be forced over the lower end of the rod, and this retainer may also be formed of any suitable material. As shown in Fig. 1, the wire 2 terminates short of the ends of the rod and is completely encased therein. If desired, the exterior of the rod may be covered with a suitable covering 8 to improve the appearance of the device and to prevent moisture from being absorbed by the insulating material or from seeping inward'between the sections thereof. This covering may be formed of fabric or any other suitable material. Of course, the exterior surface may be treated in any other manner; for example, a coating of paint may be applied thereto.

In the form of the device shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the rod is molded of insulating material 9 Within which a conducting wire I0 is embedded. The material 9 may be any moldable flexible insulating material, such as known forms of plastics having a high dielectric constant, good weather resistant qualities, and sufficient strength. Thus, in this instance, the insulating body of the rod is entirely solid and does not require the retainers at its ends, although the upper end of the rod is preferably ball-shaped, as shown in Fig. 3. Furthermore, in this instance, the exterior Surface of the rod does not require any treatment, although lt may be treated in any desired manner for improvement of appearance or other pur- ?.0 DOSE.

In each of the illustrated forms of the device, the means 3 for supporting the rod and for effecting electrical connection to the wire may comprise a metal mounting bolt II having a sleeve es or collar I2 at one end embracing the conducting 35 tor and through a suitable insulating washer I5.

The end of the bolt on the inside of the cowl will then serve as a terminal to which a lead-in wire may be connected.

It will be obvious that the bolt l I may be readily 40 assembled with the other parts of the antenna during manufacture thereof. It is only necessary to slide the conducting wire through the sleeve I2 and then embed the sleeve in the insulating material along with the wire.. In the case of the rst form of the device, the insulating sections 4 and 5 will be suitably recessed to accommodate the sleeve I2; while in the second form of the device, the sleeve I2 will be embedded in the insulating body when the latter is molded.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the invention provides a very simple, inexpensive structure in which just suiiicient metal is employed to provide an antenna having good pick-up characteristics, Without relying on metal 55 for the strength and resilience desired in this `In order to mount the antenna on v type oi' structure. Although it is not adjustable, the antenna rod may be made of suitable length to meet all requirements and, since it may be extremely iiexible, its fixed length is unobjectionable.

It will be understood, ot course, that the invention is not limited to the specific forms illustrated, but is capable of other embodiments withinthe scope of the appended claims.

I claim;

1. A pole-type antenna structure, comprising an elongated flexible rod formed of insulating material, a conducting wire extending longitudinally within said rod and enclosed thereby, said rod being substantially solid except for the space occupied by said wire, and a supporting and connecting member having a portion embedded in said rod and engaging said wire, said member extending laterally to the exterior or said rod.

2. A kpole-type antenna structure, comprising an'elongated ilexible rod formed oi' insulating material, a conducting wire extending longitudinally within said rod and enclosed thereby, said rod being substantially solid except-for the space v occupied by said wire, a supporting and connecting member having a portion embedded in said rod and engaging said wire, said member extending laterally to the exterior of said rod, and an insulator support recessed to seat said rod and having an opening through which said member may extend.

3. A pole-type antenna structure, comprising an elongated flexible rod formed of insulating material, a conducting wire extending longitudinally within said rod and enclosed thereby, said rod being substantially solid except for the space occupied by said wire. a supporting and connecting member having a portion embedded in said rod and engaging said wire, said member extending laterally to the exterior of said rod, and insulatlng support means for mounting said rod on said rod and embracing said wire, the shank ofv said bolt extending laterally to the exterior of said rod, and means including said 'bolt for securing said rod to an apertured wall, the shank of the bolt being adapted to extend through said wall and constitute a connecting terminal.

LUKE E. CLOSSON. 

